Engaging Franciscan Wisdom

Join Sara Marks, passionate and inspiring Franciscan, as she shares her wisdom and skill in navigating life's possibilities and paradoxes.

From Sara's interview:

"I would say it is simply all about relationship and I know we say that a lot and it can seem a bit reductionist, but it's what Francis and Clare and the late penitents modeled for us. It is about relationship and everything that I do, I try to go back to, am I in right relationship with this person that I'm working with? Am I in right relationship with the person I'm living with? Am I in right relationship with the environment and the world around me?"

"So often we see energy and passion, and we want to squelch it. We want to like put the water on it, turn off the fire. And that's not what we're called to. We're called to live passionate, like, open crazy lives. And so that's how I try to embrace. I try to fully embrace Franciscan values in terms of living my fullest best life. Being authentic and building relationships in every corner and aspect of my life."

"Isn't all of life a paradox? Why do people not see that it's all a paradox and that we're constantly in flux and changing? As I think of this question, Monet had a series of paintings of London in the fog…it was this concept that there is a beauty in the fog because it sort of softens the details for us. That's an image for me in terms of living with paradox and change and outside of boundaries. Sometimes you can see the skyline really clearly and it makes sense to you and you feel like you understand the world. But then the fog rolls in and, and you know what it looks like because you have experience of looking at it before. But you can't see it now and you kind of trust that it's there, but you don't know, maybe some catastrophic thing happened and the skyline is gone. We do have this trust in situations like that, and I think I can transfer that trust very easily to the faith side of my life and choose how I make decisions."

"If there was any kind of sage advice I could give people about living with ambiguity and all of that, it's that I really don't believe there are any boundaries. We need to stop thinking in terms of boundaries, because boundaries limit us. We have to think more in terms of that fog. There is a certain boundary in what you can see and know, but that doesn't mean you're confined to that space. It means you start walking toward the unknown, and more will appear….put one foot in front of the other and go!"

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

Fina Catalysts: Sara's consultant and project management business, working with Catholic non-profits: https://finacatalysts.wordpress.com/

Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia, located in Aston, PA: https://osfphila.org/.

San Damiano Cross – https://franciscanmissionservice.org/2012/10/san-damiano-cross-telling-the-history-of-christs-passion/

Saint Anthony of Padua: http://www.walkinghumblywithgod.com/blog/2022/1/30/st-anthony-of-padua-greater-than-for-finding-lost-objects

Novenas: an ancient devotional practice. For a broad look at ecumenical and global prayer practices, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novena

Saints Francis and Clare with companions, rapt in the flames of shared contemplation: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2491-fa-ed-3-page-590

Carrie Newcomer's song Holy as the Day is Spent: It begins with "Holy is the dish and drain…" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxzO8DyY9e8&t=13s

French impressionist Claude Monet and London fog: Monet said "Without fog London would not be beautiful"; see: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/feb/19/monets-obsession-with-london-fog-weatherwatch

The exquisite edge of courage: Michelle referenced a quote from When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions, Sue Monk Kidd, p. 110.

"To be fully human, fully myself, to accept all that I am, all that you envision,

This is my prayer. Walk with me out to the rim of life, beyond security.

Take me to the exquisite edge of courage and release me to become."

Franciscan Federation: www.franfed.org.

Catholic Cares Coalition: https://catholiccares.org/

Francis asking Clare and Sylvester to discern with him: The response, one of choosing the both/and of prayer and of being in the world. See Little Flowers 16: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2492-fa-ed-3-page-591 - see pp. 591 and 592.

Join Sara Marks, passionate and inspiring Franciscan, as she shares her wisdom and skill in navigating life's possibilities and paradoxes. 

From Sara's interview:

"I would say it is simply all about relationship and I know we say that a lot and it can seem a bit reductionist, but it's what Francis and Clare and the late penitents modeled for us. It is about relationship and everything that I do, I try to go back to, am I in right relationship with this person that I'm working with? Am I in right relationship with the person I'm living with? Am I in right relationship with the environment and the world around me?"

"So often we see energy and passion, and we want to squelch it. We want to like put the water on it, turn off the fire. And that's not what we're called to. We're called to live passionate, like, open crazy lives.  And so that's how I try to embrace. I try to fully embrace Franciscan values in terms of living my fullest best life. Being authentic and building relationships in every corner and aspect of my life."

"Isn't all of life a paradox? Why do people not see that it's all a paradox and that we're constantly in flux and changing?  As I think of this question, Monet had a series of paintings of London in the fog…it was this concept that there is a beauty in the fog because it sort of softens the details for us. That's an image for me in terms of living with paradox and change and outside of boundaries.  Sometimes you can see the skyline really clearly and it makes sense to you and you feel like you understand the world. But then the fog rolls in and, and you know what it looks like because you have experience of looking at it before. But you can't see it now and you kind of trust that it's there, but you don't know, maybe some catastrophic thing happened and the skyline is gone. We do have this trust in situations like that, and I think I can transfer that trust very easily to the faith side of my life and choose how I make decisions."

"If there was any kind of sage advice I could give people about living with ambiguity and all of that, it's that I really don't believe there are any boundaries. We need to stop thinking in terms of boundaries, because boundaries limit us. We have to think more in terms of that fog. There is a certain boundary in what you can see and know, but that doesn't mean you're confined to that space. It means you start walking toward the unknown, and more will appear….put one foot in front of the other and go!"

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

Fina Catalysts: Sara's consultant and project management business, working with Catholic non-profits: https://finacatalysts.wordpress.com/

Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia, located in Aston, PA: https://osfphila.org/.

San Damiano Cross – https://franciscanmissionservice.org/2012/10/san-damiano-cross-telling-the-history-of-christs-passion/

Saint Anthony of Padua: http://www.walkinghumblywithgod.com/blog/2022/1/30/st-anthony-of-padua-greater-than-for-finding-lost-objects

Novenas: an ancient devotional practice. For a broad look at ecumenical and global prayer practices, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novena

Saints Francis and Clare with companions, rapt in the flames of shared contemplation: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2491-fa-ed-3-page-590 

Carrie Newcomer's song Holy as the Day is Spent: It begins with "Holy is the dish and drain…" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxzO8DyY9e8&t=13s

French impressionist Claude Monet and London fog: Monet said "Without fog London would not be beautiful"; see: https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/feb/19/monets-obsession-with-london-fog-weatherwatch

The exquisite edge of courage: Michelle referenced a quote from When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions, Sue Monk Kidd, p. 110.

"To be fully human, fully myself, to accept all that I am, all that you envision,

This is my prayer. Walk with me out to the rim of life, beyond security.

Take me to the exquisite edge of courage and release me to become."

Franciscan Federation: www.franfed.org.

Catholic Cares Coalition: https://catholiccares.org/

Francis asking Clare and Sylvester to discern with him: The response, one of choosing the both/and of prayer and of being in the world. See Little Flowers 16: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2492-fa-ed-3-page-591 - see pp. 591 and 592.

Join Brother Jeff Brown, Lutheran Franciscan friar and pastor, as he shares his story, explores the universality of Saint Francis, and highlights the presence of ecumenical communities in the United States.

From Brother Jeff's interview:

"I discerned and came to realize that God was still at work somehow, some way in my life, despite facing some intense difficulty and sadness, that the invitation God had for me now was that my life would look cross shaped. … The invitation to a cross shaped life sounds very Franciscan to me, it has helped me continue to put one foot in front of the other and to lay down the rest of my life. That's the way I think of, of life profession to use our term. I'm professing my life away. August 1st, 2018, the day before the Franciscan family celebrates the Feast of the Portiuncula, the little portion, I said to God in this community, I'm going to lay down my little portion, my little life in service to God and neighbor."

"What I've seen is that people generally and genuinely are searching. They're searching for something. There's been some discussion and cultural conversations about the rise of the Nones, N O N E S, maybe described as spiritual, but not religious. But I wonder as walking with people searching and I've been through my own searching, if there's sometimes a temptation to divorce spirituality and religion as if they're, as the opposites, or as if the world isn't spiritual. I think it's more spiritual than it's ever been. It may not be as religious, but there is an inner search going on in the world, and this rise of articulating some sense of spiritual, but not religious, to me it's not discouraging at all, even though I can see spirituality and religion as two sides of the same coin."

"I think we are ripe for a spiritual renewal on a cultural and global scale. I find that really exciting how God works through God's children in whatever circumstance. I would say that's true of the blue collar auto mechanics my dad worked with in Montana, to professors I've been taught and had conversations with, to people at the eye doctor office, to people in the pews, to people in homeless shelters, to those in long-term care facilities."

"As I've read Francis and gone deeper in my own spiritual journey, I've seen this gospel centeredness, Francis, discovering the heart of the gospel. Later Franciscans would call this the heart of it. That is the incarnation, God becoming one of us, Christmas that wasn't brought on as a response to sin, but it was always God's plan a God wanting to be with us. The artist wanting to become the art, the musician wanting to be the music. I also wonder if it gets even better than that, that if this is true, if God is here with us, it's not just a one-time thing. It's all-encompassing all the time. God is still incarnating with us."

"We have within the same community women and men lay and ordained, both those with families and those who are single. Everyone's welcome, and we're dispersed, we're not living in one location in a monastery or a convent. Hopefully in the spirit of Francis being sent out a two by two and little communities or priorities here and there. So not strictly a one way, but hopefully a new way of being community. … We may not be united institutionally, but we can claim some level of catholicity, universal common witness and common life found in Jesus Christ in the, in the way of St. Francis and St. Clare, and the others who've gone before us."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

The ecumenical lay Franciscan family has diverse expressions, referenced in the Franciscan Action website (https://www.franciscanaction.org): -Order of Lutheran Franciscans (OLF): https://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/ - more on their four Franciscan values: https://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/mission

-Catholic – Secular Franciscan Order, USA: https://secularfranciscansusa.org/ -Episcopal – Third Order Society of St. Francis: http://tssf.org -Order of Ecumenical Franciscans: https://oeffranciscans.org

Eager to Love, by Richard Rohr: to learn more, see https://store.cac.org/products/eager-to-love-the-alternative-way-of-francis-of-assisi-1

"This is what I want. This is what I seek. This is what I long to do": This was St. Francis' response to hearing the Gospel. Read the account in the earliest biography of St. Francis; see: 1 Celano 22; https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/642-fa-ed-1-page-201 - the text is on pp. 201-202

Story of St. Francis and the leper: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blo g/st-francis-meets-the-leper . See also the earliest biography of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano (1 C17) https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195

Feast of the Portiuncula, the Little Portion, on August 2nd: https://www.alleganyfranciscans.org/post/feast-of-our-lady-of-the-angels-the-portiuncula

Nones, the spiritual but not religious: a scan of the complexity of what Nones mean https://crcc.usc.edu/whats-in-a-name-religious-nones-and-the-american-religious-landscape/ - an exploration of intergenerational bridging is between Nuns and Nones: https://www.nunsandnones.org/

Made for such a time as this: "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Canticle of the Creatures, by Francis: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-and-his-canticle ; the full text is at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/related-documents/franciscan-documents/the-canticle-of-brother-sun-1225/569-ca-ed-1-page-392

Liturgy of the Hours: To learn about this is, see https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours

Join Brother Jeff Brown, Lutheran Franciscan friar and pastor, as he shares his story, explores the universality of Saint Francis, and highlights the presence of ecumenical communities in the United States. 

From Brother Jeff's interview:

"I discerned and came to realize that God was still at work somehow, some way in my life, despite facing some intense difficulty and sadness, that the invitation God had for me now was that my life would look cross shaped. … The invitation to a cross shaped life sounds very Franciscan to me, it has helped me continue to put one foot in front of the other and to lay down the rest of my life. That's the way I think of, of life profession to use our term. I'm professing my life away. August 1st, 2018, the day before the Franciscan family celebrates the Feast of the Portiuncula, the little portion, I said to God in this community, I'm going to lay down my little portion, my little life in service to God and neighbor."

"What I've seen is that people generally and genuinely are searching. They're searching for something. There's been some discussion and cultural conversations about the rise of the Nones, N O N E S, maybe described as spiritual, but not religious. But I wonder as walking with people searching and I've been through my own searching, if there's sometimes a temptation to divorce spirituality and religion as if they're, as the opposites, or as if the world isn't spiritual. I think it's more spiritual than it's ever been. It may not be as religious, but there is an inner search going on in the world, and this rise of articulating some sense of spiritual, but not religious, to me it's not discouraging at all, even though I can see spirituality and religion as two sides of the same coin."

"I think we are ripe for a spiritual renewal on a cultural and global scale. I find that really exciting how God works through God's children in whatever circumstance. I would say that's true of the blue collar auto mechanics my dad worked with in Montana, to professors I've been taught and had conversations with, to people at the eye doctor office, to people in the pews, to people in homeless shelters, to those in long-term care facilities."

"As I've read Francis and gone deeper in my own spiritual journey, I've seen this gospel centeredness, Francis, discovering the heart of the gospel. Later Franciscans would call this the heart of it. That is the incarnation, God becoming one of us, Christmas that wasn't brought on as a response to sin, but it was always God's plan a God wanting to be with us. The artist wanting to become the art, the musician wanting to be the music. I also wonder if it gets even better than that, that if this is true, if God is here with us, it's not just a one-time thing. It's all-encompassing all the time. God is still incarnating with us."

"We have within the same community women and men lay and ordained, both those with families and those who are single. Everyone's welcome, and we're dispersed, we're not living in one location in a monastery or a convent.  Hopefully in the spirit of Francis being sent out a two by two and little communities or priorities here and there. So not strictly a one way, but hopefully a new way of being community.  … We may not be united institutionally, but we can claim some level of catholicity, universal common witness and common life found in Jesus Christ in the, in the way of St. Francis and St. Clare, and the others who've gone before us."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

The ecumenical lay Franciscan family has diverse expressions, referenced in the Franciscan Action website (https://www.franciscanaction.org): -Order of Lutheran Franciscans (OLF): https://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/ - more on their four Franciscan values: https://www.lutheranfranciscans.org/mission

-Catholic – Secular Franciscan Order, USA: https://secularfranciscansusa.org/   -Episcopal – Third Order Society of St. Francis: http://tssf.org    -Order of Ecumenical Franciscans: https://oeffranciscans.org

Eager to Love, by Richard Rohr: to learn more, see https://store.cac.org/products/eager-to-love-the-alternative-way-of-francis-of-assisi-1

"This is what I want. This is what I seek. This is what I long to do": This was St. Francis' response to hearing the Gospel. Read the account in the earliest biography of St. Francis; see: 1 Celano 22; https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/642-fa-ed-1-page-201 - the text is on pp. 201-202

Story of St. Francis and the leper: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blo g/st-francis-meets-the-leper . See also the earliest biography of Saint Francis by Thomas of Celano (1 C17)  https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195

Feast of the Portiuncula, the Little Portion, on August 2nd: https://www.alleganyfranciscans.org/post/feast-of-our-lady-of-the-angels-the-portiuncula

Nones, the spiritual but not religious: a scan of the complexity of what Nones mean https://crcc.usc.edu/whats-in-a-name-religious-nones-and-the-american-religious-landscape/ - an exploration of intergenerational bridging is between Nuns and Nones: https://www.nunsandnones.org/

Made for such a time as this: "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Canticle of the Creatures, by Francis: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/st-francis-and-his-canticle ; the full text is at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/clare-of-assisi-early-documents/related-documents/franciscan-documents/the-canticle-of-brother-sun-1225/569-ca-ed-1-page-392

Liturgy of the Hours: To learn about this is, see https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgy-of-the-hours

Join Franciscan Associate Alison Swoboda as she shares her journey of discovery into freedom and right placement in her life of service as a woman of faith and a medical provider.

From Alison's interview:

"I was with a musician friend of mine… we were at a jazz club and I heard mistakes. I couldn't believe that I heard professional musicians. You don't make mistakes. I thought like, no, no, no, no—once you're a pro you never make mistakes anymore. Or like, when I was little once, once I'm an adult, I'll never make mistakes again. And then I realized, no, that's not what it's about. We can inspire one another, even without being perfect and with music too we all have some beauty to add. Beauty doesn't have to mean perfect."

"[Serving in Central Mexico as a volunteer] was a great time of learning who I am when I don't have to be anybody, or I'm not expected to be anybody or nobody knows my family or my background, or have these expectations of how I'm supposed to act. There was kind of freedom in that, and in learning myself and what I do value for myself and how I see myself as well…This is who I am, who I'm designed to be—this is how I was made."

"I still question all the time. I feel like I'm in continual discernment of wait, is this where I should be now? Or, it time to do something else? It's that continual curiosity about what's just around the corner."

"See the blessings, the contentment and the hope that comes when we're not living in conflict, but living in congruence."

"I feel so blessed by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. It's really my spiritual home. … I resonate the most and feel so inspired by the Franciscan Sisters. Their way of being makes so much sense to me, really being in discernment, the continual conversion, the missionary spirit, really living in right relation, and helping wherever you can for as long as you can. Also, that every person is valuable and cherished and important. …I aspire to live with the same values …the Associate relationship formalizes what already is."

"[As a Franciscan Community Volunteer] I can reflect back on this intentional living together and having intentional conversations about how we see the world and how our experiences of the many worlds of St. Cloud as well, since we were all in these different locations. And how expansive even central Minnesota is. It was quite a change when I graduated undergrad, I said, I am afraid that I'm going to stay in central Minnesota for my whole life and not know the world. And so to then come back and move back to central Minnesota in some ways just felt like I was walking the same road twice, but I learned that was not the case, and it totally broke open that assumption or that fear, and showed me that it doesn't matter where you are, there can be depth and wisdom and encounter. Anywhere."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected]

References:

Franciscan Community Volunteers (FCV): While this ministry has closed, a new intentional intergenerational community has evolved in its place; more on that later. Here's a bit on FCV: https://www.fslf.org/pages/franciscan-community-volunteers

Pro-Life and value of all life: https://breakinginthehabit.org/2019/02/11/why-are-catholics-so-pro-life/. See also Catholic Social Teachings: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching

Haecceitas: a Franciscan term coined by John Duns Scotus re: the unique value, dignity, 'thisness', of every person and everything; two references: https://cac.org/irreplaceable-thisness-2018-03-18/ , and https://www.ssfamericas.org/post/a-hagiography-of-blessed-john-duns-scotus

Ronald Rolheiser, "God with skin on": https://ronrolheiser.com/; you may also want to look up his classic book "The Holy Longing" for a great exploration of what Christian life and spirituality are about. Here is a blog post exploring "a God with skin": https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/a-god-with-skin/

Join Franciscan Associate Alison Swoboda as she shares her journey of discovery into freedom and right placement in her life of service as a woman of faith and a medical provider.

From Alison's interview:

"I was with a musician friend of mine… we were at a jazz club and I heard mistakes. I couldn't believe that I heard professional musicians. You don't make mistakes. I thought like, no, no, no, no—once you're a pro you never make mistakes anymore. Or like, when I was little once, once I'm an adult, I'll never make mistakes again. And then I realized, no, that's not what it's about. We can inspire one another, even without being perfect and with music too we all have some beauty to add. Beauty doesn't have to mean perfect."

"[Serving in Central Mexico as a volunteer] was a great time of learning who I am when I don't have to be anybody, or I'm not expected to be anybody or nobody knows my family or my background, or have these expectations of how I'm supposed to act. There was kind of freedom in that, and in learning myself and what I do value for myself and how I see myself as well…This is who I am, who I'm designed to be—this is how I was made."

"I still question all the time. I feel like I'm in continual discernment of wait, is this where I should be now? Or, it time to do something else? It's that continual curiosity about what's just around the corner."

"See the blessings, the contentment and the hope that comes when we're not living in conflict, but living in congruence."

"I feel so blessed by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. It's really my spiritual home. … I resonate the most and feel so inspired by the Franciscan Sisters. Their way of being makes so much sense to me, really being in discernment, the continual conversion, the missionary spirit, really living in right relation, and helping wherever you can for as long as you can. Also, that every person is valuable and cherished and important. …I aspire to live with the same values …the Associate relationship formalizes what already is."

"[As a Franciscan Community Volunteer] I can reflect back on this intentional living together and having intentional conversations about how we see the world and how our experiences of the many worlds of St. Cloud as well, since we were all in these different locations. And how expansive even central Minnesota is. It was quite a change when I graduated undergrad, I said, I am afraid that I'm going to stay in central Minnesota for my whole life and not know the world. And so to then come back and move back to central Minnesota in some ways just felt like I was walking the same road twice, but I learned that was not the case, and it totally broke open that assumption or that fear, and showed me that it doesn't matter where you are, there can be depth and wisdom and encounter. Anywhere."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected]

References:

Franciscan Community Volunteers (FCV): While this ministry has closed, a new intentional intergenerational community has evolved in its place; more on that later. Here's a bit on FCV: https://www.fslf.org/pages/franciscan-community-volunteers

Pro-Life and value of all life: https://breakinginthehabit.org/2019/02/11/why-are-catholics-so-pro-life/. See also Catholic Social Teachings: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/seven-themes-of-catholic-social-teaching

Haecceitas: a Franciscan term coined by John Duns Scotus re: the unique value, dignity, 'thisness', of every person and everything; two references: https://cac.org/irreplaceable-thisness-2018-03-18/ , and https://www.ssfamericas.org/post/a-hagiography-of-blessed-john-duns-scotus  

Ronald Rolheiser, "God with skin on": https://ronrolheiser.com/; you may also want to look up his classic book "The Holy Longing" for a great exploration of what Christian life and spirituality are about. Here is a blog post exploring "a God with skin": https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/a-god-with-skin/

Join Franciscan Sister Maria Brizuela as she tells of her journey to religious life, celebrates God-with-us in every place and event, and honors the goodness of all of life.

From Sister Maria's interview:

"When I was young, I used to wonder, when I would see the friars in the parish, why they're always joyful. They weren't just happy, they were joy filled. And again, I told myself, I want some of that. I want to know where that's coming from. I want to experience it. And it became a quest to know more about why, what makes them joy-filled?"

"I also experienced that with retired friars. … And to me, there was something with those Franciscans; it was like, there's a pattern here. I feel the same sense of joyfulness in the wisdom figures in my community. I've seen them. I know and I understand it's never easy to lose your independence and rely on someone else to take care of your needs. But we have great sisters who witness joyfully and gracefully to this hard transition."

"To be joyful and joy filled, for me, is a life's journey. It's a choice that I'm invited to make every single day. I know I'm a work in progress, but that shouldn't be an excuse for me to be complacent. I know I have to continually try to nurture this particular piece of who I am as a Franciscan. And it's hard to build this type of disposition if I'm not rooted in God's love for me."

"What I find constantly challenges me is the value of conversion. When I think of conversion, what comes to mind is Francis's encounter with a leper. … This is where the story becomes significant in my life today, I realized the leper that God is inviting me to embrace is myself. My false humility and not recognizing the God-given goodness and beauty that I possess prevents me from embracing the leper. It deters me from fully realizing my potential for goodness and for fully becoming who and what God wants me to do. ... I realized until I come to the full and conscious awareness of my own sense of goodness and beauty, I will never be able to enter into a lifegiving relationship with others, celebrating my own sense of God, given goodness and beauty leads also to celebrating the goodness and beauty of other created beings."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

Saint Pedro Bautista, founder of San Francisco del Monte (Mount St. Francis) in the Philippines: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_del_Monte and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Minore_de_Santuario_de_San_Pedro_Bautista

San Pedro in the Philippines, and later martyred in Japan in 1597: See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMK11e-9PaI

Saint Francis stories and references:

--Earlier Exhortation 10: "We are mothers when we carry Him in our heart and body through a divine love and a pure and sincere conscience and give birth to Him through a holy activity which must shine as an example before others." See: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/earlier-exhortation/54-fa-ed-1-page-42

--True and Perfect Joy: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/true-and-perfect-joy/182-fa-ed-1-page-166

--Francis' Encounter with a Leper: (1 Celano 17): https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195

--The fire of shared contemplation, rapt into God, "How Saint Clare ate with Saint Francis and his Brother Companions in Saint Mary of the Angels": https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2491-fa-ed-3-page-590

Third Order Regular: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/franciscans-third-order-regular. Read this general introduction to what is now known as the Third Order Regular (focus of this podcast episode) and the Secular Franciscan Order (see podcast episode 27); these are two branches of the Third Order in the Franciscan family: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Order_of_Saint_Francis.

Fraternitas, brotherhood and sisterhood in relationship: Learn about the universality of this kinship in "Christ, Word of God and Exemplar of Humanity by Zachary Hayes, OFM, found on this resource page: https://www.franciscantradition.org/resources/custodians-of-the-tradition. For more depth, see also "St. Francis and the Song of Brotherhood and Sisterhood" by Eric Doyle, OFM: https://www.amazon.com/St-Francis-Song-Brotherhood-Sisterhood/dp/1576590038. Pope Francis speaks to this value in two of his encyclicals; texts and a study guide for Fratelli Tutti is available here: https://www.franciscantradition.org/resources/pope-francis-and-francis-of-assisi.

Join Franciscan Sister Maria Brizuela as she tells of her journey to religious life, celebrates God-with-us in every place and event, and honors the goodness of all of life.

From Sister Maria's interview:

"When I was young, I used to wonder, when I would see the friars in the parish, why they're always joyful. They weren't just happy, they were joy filled. And again, I told myself, I want some of that. I want to know where that's coming from. I want to experience it. And it became a quest to know more about why, what makes them joy-filled?"

"I also experienced that with retired friars. … And to me, there was something with those Franciscans; it was like, there's a pattern here. I feel the same sense of joyfulness in the wisdom figures in my community.  I've seen them.  I know and I understand it's never easy to lose your independence and rely on someone else to take care of your needs. But we have great sisters who witness joyfully and gracefully to this hard transition."

"To be joyful and joy filled, for me, is a life's journey. It's a choice that I'm invited to make every single day. I know I'm a work in progress, but that shouldn't be an excuse for me to be complacent. I know I have to continually try to nurture this particular piece of who I am as a Franciscan. And it's hard to build this type of disposition if I'm not rooted in God's love for me."

"What I find constantly challenges me is the value of conversion. When I think of conversion, what comes to mind is Francis's encounter with a leper. … This is where the story becomes significant in my life today, I realized the leper that God is inviting me to embrace is myself. My false humility and not recognizing the God-given goodness and beauty that I possess prevents me from embracing the leper. It deters me from fully realizing my potential for goodness and for fully becoming who and what God wants me to do. ... I realized until I come to the full and conscious awareness of my own sense of goodness and beauty, I will never be able to enter into a lifegiving relationship with others, celebrating my own sense of God, given goodness and beauty leads also to celebrating the goodness and beauty of other created beings."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

Saint Pedro Bautista, founder of San Francisco del Monte (Mount St. Francis) in the Philippines:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_del_Monte and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Minore_de_Santuario_de_San_Pedro_Bautista 

San Pedro in the Philippines, and later martyred in Japan in 1597: See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMK11e-9PaI 

Saint Francis stories and references:

--Earlier Exhortation 10: "We are mothers when we carry Him in our heart and body through a divine love and a pure and sincere conscience and give birth to Him through a holy activity which must shine as an example before others." See: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/earlier-exhortation/54-fa-ed-1-page-42 

--True and Perfect Joy: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-undated-writings/true-and-perfect-joy/182-fa-ed-1-page-166 

--Francis' Encounter with a Leper: (1 Celano 17): https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/636-fa-ed-1-page-195 

--The fire of shared contemplation, rapt into God, "How Saint Clare ate with Saint Francis and his Brother Companions in Saint Mary of the Angels": https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-little-flowers-of-saint-francis/2491-fa-ed-3-page-590 

Third Order Regular: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/franciscans-third-order-regular. Read this general introduction to what is now known as the Third Order Regular (focus of this podcast episode) and the Secular Franciscan Order (see podcast episode 27); these are two branches of the Third Order in the Franciscan family: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Order_of_Saint_Francis.

Fraternitas, brotherhood and sisterhood in relationship: Learn about the universality of this kinship in "Christ, Word of God and Exemplar of Humanity by Zachary Hayes, OFM, found on this resource page: https://www.franciscantradition.org/resources/custodians-of-the-tradition. For more depth, see also "St. Francis and the Song of Brotherhood and Sisterhood" by Eric Doyle, OFM: https://www.amazon.com/St-Francis-Song-Brotherhood-Sisterhood/dp/1576590038. Pope Francis speaks to this value in two of his encyclicals; texts and a study guide for Fratelli Tutti is available here: https://www.franciscantradition.org/resources/pope-francis-and-francis-of-assisi.

Join Franciscan Associate Geri Dietz as she explores the Good News of the Gospel, including God's goodness revealed to us in the vulnerability and humility of Jesus coming as a child.

From Geri's interview: "What I loved when I was learning about the Associates, is that the charism that the Third Order has received, the grace that the Third Order has received, is continual conversion. And for me, when I heard that, that that was the deal maker for me. And then it was modeled by the Sisters and other Associates that we met. We couldn't help but want to become Associates and be with these people who live the good news of Jesus."

"The original nativity was inspired by his [Saint Francis'] trip in 1221 to the Holy Land, which included Jesus's traditional birthplace. So that influenced him being there, as well as the Scriptures which would be both in Matthew and Luke. Francis was deeply moved visiting the site where God became fully human. Hoping that others could enjoy that same profound, inspiration and experience, he encouraged believers to make pilgrimages to Bethlehem. ... Francis decided to do the next best thing because not a lot could go to Bethlehem. He thought I'm going to bring Bethlehem to the pilgrims. So on Christmas Eve in 1223, just a few years before he died, Francis created the first Nativity in the Italian city of what's called Greccio. And with the help of a local nobleman named John, Francis celebrated the birth of Jesus in a cave outside the town."

"We can see how God has bent over the world and comes to us as a small, seemingly insignificant, vulnerable baby. We can be grateful that the Lord came to us in the form of a child instead of the form of a committee, a jury, a dictator, a king with royal pronouncements before him. ... Jesus, this baby, doesn't communicate a series of ideas or scientific principles or algorithms. The baby's not even speaking. The child is there for us to see the love of God in the flesh. And God comes to us in a very humble form, in a form that is poor. And for Francis, the incarnation reveals the presence of God in the world, in the littleness of our lives. In the littleness of a child, born in a place where animals eat and live. The littleness of those who you and I, and everyone listening, who know people who are homeless and vulnerable in those who suffer from disease and mental illness and those who are aged and lonely. Jesus is in those who have no room in anyone else's inn."

"What [do] people think about God and where do we stand? Is the gospel something that is restrictive, legalistic, who turns its followers into joyless men and women who quote, who don't do anything? Is it possible to live a life joyful while following the gospel? Is the gospel good news for us?

We really can't understand the material world, the world of creation unless we see, unless we come to see it, in Christ, as good. That it's a good world and the gospels are called the good news. Everything that God has created is very good. We read it in the book of Wisdom. We hear it from Paul … It has a significant meaning, this good news, for Franciscans. Just reading through Francis's writings, we come across the word good so frequently that it's kind of Franciscan motto is to see the world is good. And I've noticed in the Franciscan Sisters and Brothers who I've met, and Associates, they see the good in others."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR; co-founder of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal: https://fatherbenedict.com/fr-benedict-groeschel/

Father Richard Rohr, OFM; founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation: https://cac.org/about/richard-rohr/

Spiritual Direction School in Tucson, AZ: Hesychia: http://desertrenewal.org/hesychia-sd-school/

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota: www.fslf.org. Franciscan Associate relationship: https://www.fslf.org/AssociateRelationship

Early Franciscan Sources:

Story of the first live Nativity in Greccio, Italy, 1 Celano 30:84-87: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/695-fa-ed-1-page-254

Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule 23:9-10: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-earlier-rule/100-fa-ed-1-page-85

Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule 27:17-18: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-earlier-rule/91-fa-ed-1-page-76

Jesuit (Ignatian) Spirituality: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/

Jay Leno, Jaywalking "Bill of Rights" (Civics Test video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqmQJXdqrM

Join Franciscan Associate Geri Dietz as she explores the Good News of the Gospel, including God's goodness revealed to us in the vulnerability and humility of Jesus coming as a child.

From Geri's interview: "What I loved when I was learning about the Associates, is that the charism that the Third Order has received, the grace that the Third Order has received, is continual conversion. And for me, when I heard that, that that was the deal maker for me. And then it was modeled by the Sisters and other Associates that we met.  We couldn't help but want to become Associates and be with these people who live the good news of Jesus."

"The original nativity was inspired by his [Saint Francis'] trip in 1221 to the Holy Land, which included Jesus's traditional birthplace. So that influenced him being there, as well as the Scriptures which would be both in Matthew and Luke. Francis was deeply moved visiting the site where God became fully human. Hoping that others could enjoy that same profound, inspiration and experience, he encouraged believers to make pilgrimages to Bethlehem. ... Francis decided to do the next best thing because not a lot could go to Bethlehem. He thought I'm going to bring Bethlehem to the pilgrims. So on Christmas Eve in 1223, just a few years before he died, Francis created the first Nativity in the Italian city of what's called Greccio. And with the help of a local nobleman named John, Francis celebrated the birth of Jesus in a cave outside the town."

"We can see how God has bent over the world and comes to us as a small, seemingly insignificant, vulnerable baby. We can be grateful that the Lord came to us in the form of a child instead of the form of a committee, a jury, a dictator, a king with royal pronouncements before him. ... Jesus, this baby, doesn't communicate a series of ideas or scientific principles or algorithms. The baby's not even speaking. The child is there for us to see the love of God in the flesh. And God comes to us in a very humble form, in a form that is poor. And for Francis, the incarnation reveals the presence of God in the world, in the littleness of our lives. In the littleness of a child, born in a place where animals eat and live. The littleness of those who you and I, and everyone listening, who know people who are homeless and vulnerable in those who suffer from disease and mental illness and those who are aged and lonely. Jesus is in those who have no room in anyone else's inn."

"What [do] people think about God and where do we stand? Is the gospel something that is restrictive, legalistic, who turns its followers into joyless men and women who quote, who don't do anything? Is it possible to live a life joyful while following the gospel? Is the gospel good news for us?

We really can't understand the material world, the world of creation unless we see, unless we come to see it, in Christ, as good. That it's a good world and the gospels are called the good news. Everything that God has created is very good. We read it in the book of Wisdom. We hear it from Paul … It has a significant meaning, this good news, for Franciscans. Just reading through Francis's writings, we come across the word good so frequently that it's kind of Franciscan motto is to see the world is good. And I've noticed in the Franciscan Sisters and Brothers who I've met, and Associates, they see the good in others."

For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: [email protected].

References:

Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR; co-founder of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal: https://fatherbenedict.com/fr-benedict-groeschel/

Father Richard Rohr, OFM; founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation: https://cac.org/about/richard-rohr/

Spiritual Direction School in Tucson, AZ: Hesychia: http://desertrenewal.org/hesychia-sd-school/

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota: www.fslf.org. Franciscan Associate relationship: https://www.fslf.org/AssociateRelationship

Early Franciscan Sources:

Story of the first live Nativity in Greccio, Italy, 1 Celano 30:84-87: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/695-fa-ed-1-page-254

Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule 23:9-10: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-earlier-rule/100-fa-ed-1-page-85

Francis of Assisi, Earlier Rule 27:17-18: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-francis/the-earlier-rule/91-fa-ed-1-page-76

Jesuit (Ignatian) Spirituality: https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/

Jay Leno, Jaywalking "Bill of Rights" (Civics Test video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqmQJXdqrM